Management of a Congenital Flexural Deformity in a Calf - Surgical and Pathological Aspects

Authors

  • Maria Eduarda dos Santos Lopes Fernandes Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Luiza de Albuquerque Carvalho Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Marina Galindo Chenard Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Cícero Araújo Pitombo Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Orlei Justen dos Santos Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Saulo Andrade Caldas Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Vivian de Assunção Nogueira Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
  • Michel Abdalla Helayel Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.104033

Abstract

Background: Flexural deformities are anatomical deviations, in varying degrees, of one or more joints, and may have a congenital or acquired origin. Congenital contracture of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) affects newborn calves and results in hyperflexion of the metacarpal-phalangeal joint, which in severe cases means that the animal must support its own weight on its fetlock joints. The aim of this study is to report the rapid and successful result of applying bilateral total tenotomy technique on a newborn bovine that had been diagnosed with severe bilateral DDFT contracture in the thoracic limbs.

Case: A 3-week-old male bovine with a history of difficulty in maintaining a quadrupedal position was attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Tocantins. The animal had severe bilateral locomotor alterations in the thoracic members to the point that he walked on his fetlock joints. The physical examination revealed clinical parameters within the normal range. However, the locomotor system examination showed severe flexor deformity in the bilateral metacarpal-phalangeal joints, and the limbs were being supported on the dorsal face of the fetlock joints, which presented ulcerations, and was suggestive of a shortening of the DDFT. Based on the patient's history and clinical examination, as well as the severity of the tendon contractures, surgical treatment using the DDFT bilateral total tenotomy technique was decided upon. Postoperative treatment consisted of 2.5 mg/kg of enrofloxacin intramuscularly (IM), SID, for 5 days and 0.5 mg/kg meloxicam via IM, SID, for 3 days; as well as a dressing (cotton, medical bandage and a PVC mold) on the thoracic limbs to provide support and allow the animal to walk, until its complete recovery. One day after the surgery, the animal was able to walk with difficulty and some trembling; however, on the third day after the surgical procedure, it could stand up by itself, walk and graze normally. The surgical stitches were removed seven days after the operation, as the surgical wounds had healed adequately. The animal was followed-up for a one-month period after the total tenotomy, with no recurrence of any of the clinical signs, and the thoracic limbs had regained normal biomechanics.

Discussion: Congenital flexural deformities are common in newborn calves of different breeds and their incidence is mainly in the thoracic limbs, especially in the carpal, distal interphalangeal and metacarpal-phalangeal joints as was reported in the animal in this study. The history and anamnesis of the animal, along with a thorough physical examination, in order to rule out any other congenital alterations, was extremely important in the diagnosis, and the classification of the severity of the deformity along with the choice of appropriate treatment in the present study. Although total tenotomy is rarely reported in the literature, and there are controversial results with calves, the surgical treatment was chosen in the present case due to the severity of the case. The DDFT bilateral total tenotomy surgical technique gave satisfactory results for the correction of severe bilateral flexor deformity in the thoracic limbs of the newborn crossbred calf. Complete recovery of the limb biomechanics was rapid, and there was no post-surgical complications, thus ensuring the animal could have a good and healthy life. Total DDFT tenotomy is considered a viable surgical procedure for calves with severe congenital flexor deformities; however, post-operative care is also important to ensure good final results.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Maria Eduarda dos Santos Lopes Fernandes, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.

Pós-graduanda do Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária da UFRRJ

References

Adams S.B. & Santschi E.M. 2000. Management of Congenital and Acquired Flexural Limb Deformities. In: 46th Annual Convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (Texas, U.S.A.). pp.117-125.

Anderson D.E., Desrochers A. & Jean G.S. 2008. Management of Tendon Disorders in Cattle. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice. 24(3): 551-566. DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2008.07.008

Blowey R.W. & Weave A. 2011. Congenital disorders. In: Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of Cattle. 3rd edn. St. Louis: Mosby, p.5.

Fazili M.R., Bhattacharyya H.K., Mir M.U.R., Hafiz A. & Tufani N.A. 2014. Prevalence and effect of oxytetracycline on congenital fetlock knuckling in neonatal dairy calves. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research. 81(1): 1-6. DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v81i1.710.

Fubini S. & Ducharme N. 2004. Surgery of the calf musculoskeletal system. In: Farm Animal Surgery. 2nd edn. St. Louis: Saunders Company, pp.521-523.

Krishnamurthy D. 1993. Musculoskeletal System: Tendons and Ligaments. In: Tyagi R.P.S. & Singh J. (Eds). Ruminant Surgery. 2nd edn. New Delhi: CBS Publishers and Distributors, pp.309-310.

Larson B. 2010. Contracted tendons and other leg deformities in calves. Angus Beef Bulletin. pp.44-45. [Fonte: <http://www.angusbeefbulletin.com/ArticlePDF/Vet%20Link%2003_10%20ABB.pdf>]

Leipold H.W., Hirarga T. & Dennis S.M. 1993. Congenital defects of the bovine musculoskeletal system and joints. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice. 9: 93-104. DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0720(15)30674-5.

Mazzanti C., Filapi A., Prestes D., Mazzanti A., Faria R. & Cecim M. 2003. Alterações cardíacas, traqueais e flexurais em um terneiro da raça Jersey. Ciência Rural. 33(4): 763-766. DOI: 10.1590/S0103-84782003000400028.

Metzner M., Baumgart I. & Klee W. 2007. Effect of infusion of 60 mg/kg oxytetracycline on forelimb flexor tendon contracture in calves. Veterinary Record. 160(5):166-167. DOI: 10.1136/vr.160.5.166

Ochube G.E., Kaltungo B.Y. & Abubakar U.B. 2014. Bilateral Contracted Flexor Tendon of the Carpal Joint and Congenital Ankylosis of the Humero-Radial Joint in a 72 hours old Heifer Calf. International Journal of Innovative and Applied Research. 2(5): 10-13. DOI: 10.36478 / javaa.2014.645.647.

Rashmi, Tamilmahan P., Prabhakar R. & Priyadharshini. 2018. Surgical management of congenital flexor tendon deformity in calves: a review of three cases. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies. 6(3): 544-546. [Fonte: <http://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2018/vol6issue3/PartH/6-3-63-790.pdf>]

Rebhun W.C. 2000. Doenças músculo esqueléticas. In: Doenças do Gado Leiteiro. São Paulo: Editora Roca, pp.445-500.

Steiner A., Anderson D.E. & Desrochers A. 2014. Diseases of the tendons and tendon sheaths. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice. 30: 157-175. DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2013.11.002

Tavares H.J. 2018. Terapia de deformidades flexurais em bezerros. 28f. Santa Maria, RS. Trabalho de conclusão de Residência (Residência Médica Veterinária) - Programa de Residência em Área Profissional da Saúde - Medicina Veterinária/Clínica de Grandes Animais, ênfase em Clínica de Ruminantes, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.

Published

2020-01-01

How to Cite

Fernandes, M. E. dos S. L., Carvalho, L. de A., Chenard, M. G., Pitombo, C. A., dos Santos, O. J., Caldas, S. A., Nogueira, V. de A., & Helayel, M. A. (2020). Management of a Congenital Flexural Deformity in a Calf - Surgical and Pathological Aspects. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, 48. https://doi.org/10.22456/1679-9216.104033

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>